“ “The Cow in the Costco Cup”: ‘Hidden’ Ingredient Sparks Outrage With Hindus And Vegetarians-Vegans”, Hindu Human Rights, December 29, 2025
“In December 2025, an incident at the Costco @Costco warehouse in Lawrenceville, New Jersey revealed a troubling blind spot in the company’s food sampling program—one that risks violating the religious and ethical dietary practices of many of its members.
During a routine visit, Costco’s third-party sampling partner, CDS (Club Demonstration Services), was offering samples of Genius Gourmet’s Sparkling Clear Protein Water. The product contains bovine collagen, a fact not disclosed to members at the sampling station. For many Hindus—who not only follow vegetarian diets but also abstain specifically from bovinederived ingredients—this omission is not a minor oversight. It is a direct conflict with deeply held religious principles.
A Pattern of Avoidable Harm.
Over the course of thirty minutes, I spoke with several Indian members, all of whom identified as vegetarian. When informed that the beverage contained cow collagen, every single one declined the sample. Their reactions were immediate and consistent, underscoring how essential ingredient transparency is in a sampling environment…..”
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